Bangladesh team leaves for Slovenia today

Managing Director of Dutch-Bangla Bank Md Yeasin Ali speaks at a reception ceremony for the Bangladesh team members who will take part in the 47th International Mathematical Olympiad. On his left are Dr Jamilur Reza Chowdhury, Dr Zafar Iqbal and Abdul Quaiyum. Bangladesh Mathematical Olympiad Committee organised the reception at a city hotel yesterday. PHOTO: STAR

The Bangladesh team will start for Ljubljana, capital of Slovenia, today at the invitation of the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO).

This is the second time that a Bangladesh team is taking part in International Mathematical Olympiad.

The contestants are Sabrina Tabassum, Rafatul Faria, Shoumen Das and ASM Shahidul Islam.

They are higher secondary students.

Of them, Sabrina Tabassum and Rafatul Faria took part in the 46th Olympiad in Mexico last year.

Bangladesh Mathematical Olympiad (BMO) Committee disclosed this at a press conference at a city hotel where the contestants were accorded a reception.

Prof Jamilur Reza Chowdhury, president of Bangladesh Mathematical Olympiad Committee, read out a keynote paper at the press conference.

He said Dr Mahbub Mojumdar, teacher of London Imperial College and coach of BMO team, is leading the Bangladesh team. He has already reached Ljubljana.

Each team comprising up to six members will have to solve six basic and new maths during the two-day competition where a total of 104 countries are contesting, Prof Reza added.

To form the team for the IMO, known as Olympiad of the Olympiads or king of all competition, Dutch-Bangla Bank-Prothom Alo Mathematical Festival 2006 was ignited on January this year dividing the whole country into 13 math zones.

Out of total 18,000 participants in the math festival, four contestants were elected for the 47th IMO.

General Secretary of BMO committee Munir Hasan, Vice- president Prof Dr Zafar Iqbal, Joint Editor of Prothom Alo Abdul Quaiyum, Managing Director of Dutch-Bangla Bank Md Yeasin Ali and parents of the contestants were present on the occasion.

Addressing the press conference Prof Zafar Iqbal said it's a moment of pleasure that Bangladesh is going to participate in a big competition like IMO to uphold the country's image.

"We always hear defamation of our country but there are things where we can take pride. It is a matter of pride that our boys and girls are going to participate in a prestigious competition," he added.